EP2161521B1

EP2161521B1 - Refrigerator and method of controlling the same

Info

Publication number: EP2161521B1
Application number: EP09008767.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Su Nam Chae; Sung Jhee
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2008-09-03
Filing date: 2009-07-03
Publication date: 2017-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-03
Also published as: KR101193759B1; KR20100027576A; EP2161521A3; EP2161521A2

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a refrigerator including a heater for reducing dew condensation.
In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that can store foods in a refrigeration or freezing state using cool air generated through heat exchange with refrigerant that circulates in a refrigeration cycle. A refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment for receiving and storing the foods is provided inside a cabinet of the refrigerator. The freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment are selectively closed by a freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door, respectively. A heater is provided in provided in the cabinet and/or the refrigerator compartment door and the freezer compartment door to reduce dew condensation generated on surfaces thereof. In detail, the heater heats a surface of the refrigerator compartment door and/or a surface of the freezer compartment door to reduce the dew condensation generated on the surface(s) of the freezer compartment door and/or the refrigerator compartment door by a difference between temperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment and an indoor temperature.
In a related art refrigerator, in case of a previously set temperature condition, e.g., in case where an indoor temperature is higher than a previously set reference temperature, a heater operates in order to prevent a surface of a refrigerator compartment door and/or a surface of a freezer compartment door from forming dew condensation. Thus, since the heater operates without reference to the indoor temperature in case where it is difficult to form the dew condensation, power consumption of a product may unnecessarily increase.
US 2008/115514 A1 describes a refrigerator including a housing with an interior space defined by an exterior surface. A heater is configured to heat a portion of the exterior surface. A processor is configured to control the heater based on a dew point temperature outside the housing.
JP H10 339555 A describes a refrigerator. Detection signals of a casing surface temperature sensor and an outside air humidity sensor are inputted into a controller. A quantity of current applied to each dew preventive heater is computed based on these signals.
JP H10 332249 A describes a refrigerator having an outer air temperature sensor and an outer air humidity sensor. Detection signals from the outer air temperature sensor and the outer air humidity sensor are delivered to a control section and dew formation preventing heaters are supplied with required power.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling a refrigerator configured to further reduce economically dew condensation. This object is solved by the features of the independent claim.
Advantageous features are defined in the dependent claims.
According to the invention the dew condensation may be further reduced economically.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a configuration according to an embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a table illustrating increments of an output value of a heater depending on an indoor temperature and relative humidity according to an embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a configuration according to an embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a table illustrating increments of an output value of a heater depending on an indoor temperature and relative humidity according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 includes a cabinet 10, a freezer compartment door 20, and a refrigerator compartment door 30. A freezer compartment (not shown) and a refrigerator compartment (not shown) are provided inside the cabinet 10. The freezer compartment door 20 and the refrigerator compartment door 30 selectively close the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, respectively.
A dispenser 40 is installed on a front surface of the freezer compartment door 20. The dispenser 40 dispenses water and ice to the outside without opening the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment by opening the freezer compartment door 20 and the refrigerator compartment door 30.
A home bar 100 is installed in the refrigerator compartment door 30. Foods are taken in or out of the home bar 100 without opening the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment by opening the freezer compartment door 20 and the refrigerator compartment door 30. Referring to FIG. 2, the home bar 100 includes a home bar frame 110, a home bar door 120, a home bar housing 130, gaskets 140, 150 and a heater H.
In detail, the home bar frame 110 has an approximately rectangle frame shape. A home bar opening 111 is defined in the home bar frame 110. The home bar opening 111 serves as an inlet/outlet port through which the foods to be received in the home bar 100 are taken in or out.
A hook part 113 is provided in the home bar frame 110. A portion of a circumference surface of the home bar frame 110 corresponding to a circumference of the home bar opening 111 protrudes toward the inside of the home bar opening 111 to form the hook part 113. In this embodiment, the circumference surface of the home bar frame 110 is divided equally in front and rear directions, and a rear end portion thereof protrudes inwardly to form the hook part 113.
The home bar door 120 has a shape corresponding to that of the home bar opening 111. The home bar door 120 opens and closes the home bar opening 111 using a pull-down method in which an upper end of the home bar door 120 is vertically rotated with respect to a lower end rotatably coupled to the home bar frame 110.
A protrusion part 121 is disposed on a back surface of the home bar door 120. A central portion of the back surface of the home bar door 120 protrudes backward with a shape corresponding to that of the home bar opening 111 except the hook part 113 to form the protrusion part 121. The protrusion part 121 reduces interference with the hook part 113 in a state where the home bar door 120 closes the home bar opening 111. Thus, in the state where the home bar door 120 closes the home bar opening 111, a circumference surface of the home bar door 120 including a circumference surface of the protrusion part 121 substantially faces the circumference surface of the home bar frame 110 including the a circumference surface of the hook part 113. Also, the back surface of the home bar door 120 except the protrusion part 121 faces a front surface of the hook part 113. In the state where the home bar door 120 closes the home bar opening 111, the front surface and the back surface of the home bar door 120 is flush with a front surface and a back surface of the refrigerator compartment door 30, respectively. The front surface and the back surface of the home bar door 30 may protrude from the front surface and the back surface of the refrigerator compartment door 30, respectively. However, it is ignored when considering a total height of the home bar door 120.
The home bar housing 130 is installed on the back surface of the refrigerator compartment door 30. A home bar receiving space 131 is defined between an inner surface of the home bar housing 130 and the back surface of the refrigerator compartment door 30. The home bar receiving space 131 receives and stores the foods taken in or out through the home bar opening 111.
The gasket 140 prevents cool air within the home bar receiving space 131 from leaking to the outside through a gap between the home bar frame 110 and the home bar door 120. For this, the gasket 140 is provided on a front surface of the hook part 113. Thus, the gasket 140 is closely attached to the back surface of the home bar door 120 in the state where the home bar door 120 closes the home bar opening 111. Another gasket 150 is provided on the backside of the home bar frame 110 adjacent to the home bar opening 111. At this time, the gasket 150 is extended to the home bar opening 111 from the backside of the home bar frame 110. Therefore, this gasket 150 is closely adhered to the backside of the home bar door 120, more specifically, to the backside of the projection part 121 of the home bar door 120, in a state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120.
The heater H is provided inside the home bar frame 110. The heater H reduces dew condensation generated on the front surfaces of the refrigerator compartment door 30, the home bar frame 110, and the home bar door 120 by a temperature difference of the inside of the cabinet 1, i.e., between an inside and an outside of the home bar receiving space 131.
Referring to FIG. 3, the refrigerator 1 further includes a temperature sensor S1, a humidity sensor S2, and a controller C to control the heater H. The temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2 detect the indoor temperature and relative humidity, respectively. The controller C controls an operation of the heater H according to an indoor temperature T and a relative humidity RH respectively detected by the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2.
In detail, in case where the indoor temperature T and the relative humidity RH is a set reference temperature and reference humidity, if an output of the heater H is a reference output P0, the controller C calculates an output in increments of a previously set rate with respect to the reference output P0 according to the indoor temperature T and the relative humidity RH respectively detected by the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2, and therefore, controls the operation of the heater H. This is done a reason that further economically uses a product by controlling the output of the heater H according to the indoor relative humidity RH and a difference between the temperature of the home bar receiving space 131 and the indoor temperature T that determine whether the dew condensation occurs.
For example, the reference output P0 may be defined as an output value of the heater H that can reduce the dew condensation in case where a reference temperature zone T0 and a reference humidity zone RH0 are more than about 25°C and less than about 30°C and more than about 85%, respectively. When values of the reference temperature and the humidity are changed, a value of the reference output P0 is also changed. The reference output P0 is differently determined according to a size of the home bar 100, i.e., sizes of the home bar frame 110, the home bar opening 111, and the home bar door 120.
An output P of the heater H according to the indoor temperature T and relative humidity RH respectively detected by the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2 may be calculated such that the output P of the heater H is reduced in increments of 15% or 10% with respect to the reference output P0 when a temperature is reduced by increments of 5°C, or a relative humidity is reduced by increments of 10%. Thus, when the indoor temperature T is less than 20°C, and the relative humidity is less than 75%, the output of the heater H may be defined as 50% of the reference output P0.
Referring to FIG. 4, the indoor temperature T is divided into a first temperature zone T1 that is less than 20°C, a second temperature zone T2 that is more than 20°C and less than 25°C, the reference temperature zone T0 that is more than 25°C and less than 30°C, and a third temperature zone T3 that is more than 30°C. The indoor relative humidity RH is divided into a first humidity zone RH1 that is less than 75%, a second humidity zone RH2 that is more than 75% and less than 85%, and the reference humidity zone RH0 that is more than 85%. When the indoor temperature is within the first temperature zone T1, the second temperature zone T2, and the third temperature zone T3, the controller C controls the operation of the heater H as outputs reduced respectively by increments of 15% with respect to the reference output P0. Also, when the relative humidity RH is within the first humidity zone RH1 and the second humidity zone RH2, the controller C controls the operation of the heater H as outputs reduced respectively by increments of 10% with respect to the reference output P0.
The temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2 may be installed at any one side of the cabinet 10, the freezer compartment door 20, and the refrigerator compartment door 30. In addition, the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2 must be installed at positions that can detect the indoor temperature and relative humidity without having an influence on the cool air within the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and a home bar receiving space 131.
Hereinafter, a method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to an accompanying drawing.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a refrigerator according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 5, a refrigerator 1 operates in operation S11. An operation of the refrigerator 1 includes an operation of a refrigeration cycle in which cool air is generated to store foods in a freezer compartment or a refrigerator compartment in a freezing state or a refrigeration state.
In operation S13, a temperature sensor S1 and a humidity sensor S2 detect an indoor temperature and relative humidity, respectively. As described above, since the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2 are disposed at positions that do not have an influence on the cool air within the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and a home bar receiving space 131, the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2 can further accurately detect the indoor temperature and relative humidity.
In operation S15, the controller C calculates an output value of the heater H according to the indoor temperature T and relative humidity RH respectively detected by the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2. In detail, the controller C calculates an output value of the heater H such that the output value of the heater H increases or decreases by a previously set rate with respect to the previously set reference output according to the indoor temperature T and relative humidity RH respectively detected by the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2. For example, when the indoor temperature detected by the temperature sensor S1 is about 28°C, the indoor relative humidity detected by the humidity sensor S2 is about 78%, the controller C calculates the output value of the heater H as an output of the heater H for reducing the dew condensation in case where the indoor temperature is 30°C, and the indoor relative humidity is 85%, i.e., 90% of the reference output.
In operation S17, the controller C controls the operation of the heater H as the output value of the heater H calculated in the operation S15. The output value of the heater H calculated in the operation S15 is calculated according to the indoor temperature and relative humidity respectively detected by the temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2. The dew condensation is determined according to the indoor relative humidity and a difference between the indoor temperature and the temperature of the inside of the home bar receiving space 131. Thus, although the heater H operates as the output value calculated in the operation S15, the dew condensation generated on surfaces of a freezer compartment door 30, a home bar frame 110, and a home bar door 120 can be sufficiently reduced.
In the above-described embodiments, although the home bar is installed in the refrigerator compartment door, but is not limited thereto. For example, the home bar may be installed in the freezer compartment as well as the refrigerator compartment door, and also, may be installed in both the freezer compartment door and the refrigerator compartment door.
In the above-described embodiments, although the heater is installed on only the home bar frame, the heater may be installed on the home bar door. Also, the heater may be installed on the freezer compartment door (or the refrigerator compartment door) in which the home bar is installed or the cabinet.
In the refrigerator including the above-described components according to the embodiments and the method of controlling the same, the operation of the heater for reducing the dew condensation is controlled according to the indoor temperature and relative humidity of a room in which the refrigerator is positioned. Thus, according to the embodiments, since power consumption used for reducing the dew condensation can be minimized, the products can be further economically used.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

A method of controlling a refrigerator (1) comprising:
a cabinet (10) defining a storage space;

a door selectively closing the storage space;

a heater (H) for reducing dew condensation on the door;

a temperature detecting part (S1) for detecting an indoor temperature; and

a humidity detecting part (S2) for detecting an indoor relative humidity, the method comprising:
detecting an indoor temperature (T) and a relative humidity (RH) using the temperature detecting part (S1) and the humidity detecting part (S2), respectively;

setting an output of the heater (H) according to the indoor temperature (T) and the relative humidity (RH) detected by the temperature detecting part (S1) and the humidity detecting part (S2), respectively; and

operating the heater (H) at the set output,

wherein the heater (H) is operated at a reference output (P0) when the detected indoor temperature (T) is within a reference temperature zone (T0) and the detected relative humidity (RH) is within reference humidity zone (RH0), and

wherein the heater (H) operates at an output increased or decreased by a preset rate with respect to the previously set reference output (P0), when the detected indoor temperature (T) and the detected relative humidity (RH) are within a temperature zone and a humidity zone, respectively, which have been increased or decreased by preset ranges with respect to the reference temperature zone (T0) and the reference humidity zone (RH0).
The method of claim 1, wherein the preset range of the indoor temperature (T) to be increased or decreased is 5°C, and the preset rate of the output of the heater to be increased or decreased with respect to the increase or decrease of the detected indoor temperature (T) is 15%.
The method of claim 2, wherein the preset range of the relative humidity (RH) to be increased or decreased is 10%, and the preset rate of the output of the heater to be increased or decreased with respect to the increase or decrease of the detected relative humidity (RH) is 10%.
The method of claim 3, wherein the reference temperature zone (T0) is set to more than 25°C and less than 30°C, and the reference humidity zone (RH0) is set to more than 85%.
The method of claim 4, wherein the heater (H) is operated at an output decreasing by 30% with respect to the reference output (P0) in case where the indoor temperature (T) is within a first temperature zone (T1) that is less than 20°C, operated at an output decreasing by 15% with respect to the reference output (P0) in case where the indoor temperature (T) is within a second temperature zone (T2) that is more than 20°C and less than 25°C, and operated at an output increasing by 15% with respect to the reference output (P0) in case where the indoor temperature (T) is within a third temperature zone (T3) that is more than 30°C.
The method according to claim 5, wherein the heater (H) is operated at an output decreasing by 20% with respect to the reference output (P0) in case where the indoor relative humidity (RH) is within a first humidity zone (RH1) that is less than 75% and operated at an output decreasing by 10% with respect to the reference output (P0) in case where the indoor relative humidity (RH) is within a second humidity zone (RH2) that is more than 75% and less than 85%.